Operating device for hookless or slide fasteners



22 1 1.. 1. SCHELDORFER 2,663,538

OPERATING DEVICE FOR HOOKLEJSS OR SLIDE FASTENERS- Filed July 19, 1951 INVENTOR A fizz/7 [Sc/ze/aor/er BY ATTORNE'YJ' Patented Dec. 22, 1953 OPERATING IiEVICE FDRTHOUKL'E'SS SLIDE "FASTENERS Y Lillian I-r. Scheldorfer, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. a plication J19, 1951,TSe1'- ial No. 7231;563

This invention relates to actuating devices for facilitating the operation "of hookless or slide fasteners, and particularly for actuating such fasteners associated withgarments and so placed where accessibility for manipulation is frequently inconvenient, awkward-and difficult.

The present invention is particularly directed "to such devices as above generally referred to and which include in combination a shieldfor preventing the fastener elements from entanglement with the cloth of the garment and the skin of the wearer during theol'osing operation.

Operating devices now known and employed to facilitate closing or opening slide fasteners and which include in combination a shield as and for the purpose above specified are for the most part bulky and entail "relatively expensive Tabricationprocesses. It therefore, a primary "object of the "present invention to provide a shield equipped slide fastener "operating device that is extremely simple in terms of structure, is pleasing and attractive in appearance, can be manufactured economically and at the same time possesses all of the desirable advantages of a shield equipped operating device for slide fasteners.

The slide fastener operating device of this invention is characterized by having the shield thereof as a prolongation of the main body portion of the device at that end of the device equipped for attachment to the slider of the hookless fastener so that the shield is substantially in a plane normal to the plane of the main body portion of the device, thereby eliminating all bulkiness and resulting in the shield more efilciently functioning for preventing the cloth of the garment or the skin of the wearer becoming entangled with the fastener elements incidental to the'desired operation of the slide fastener.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein are illustrated what are presently considered preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of a device embodying this invention and diagrammatically illustrating it in position for closing a slidefastener;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the slide fastener shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 2, but respectively illustrating slightly modified forms of the invention.

In Figure 1 there is fragmentarily illustrated 2 Glaims. (01. 294-26) a garment "'5, such "as a dress, equipped with'a conventional slide fastener "provided with the usual stringers "6, a slider 1 for engaging anddisengaging the hooks of the stringer, and a pull tab or finger piece 8 pivoted to the slider land provided with a perforation '9; all of which is also conventional in fasteners now in common use.

The device of this invention is adapted to be relea'sably secured to the finger-piece =orpull tab '8 to facilitate opening and '=clos'ing of the slide fastener and to shield 'the sklinof the user=and/or undergarmentsfrom being entangled or caught between the hooks of thes'trin'gers ii.

'In each of the 'f ormsof the inverition/theactuating device for the 'h'ookless fastener is formed from a single length of suitable material, as for example, metal, plastic or "the like, cut, shaped and dimensioned'to'provide an elongated body-or shank 1 ll 'equipped atone end with a handle H and at an opposite end with .a shield portion 12. In forming the handle ID, the material of the device is curved in one direction, and in forming the shield 12 the material of the device is curved in a direction other than that of the handle I I so that the handle I I extends from the shank or body In in a direction different from that direction in which the shield l2 extends so that neither will interfere with the proper function of the other.

At the juncture of the shank or body In and shield I2, the body or shank I0 is provided with a rivet l3 fabricated to provide a hook l4 that also extends laterally from the device in a direction opposite to that of the shield I2.

As shown to advantage in Figure 1, when the device is employed for manipulating a slide fastener, as for example, for closing the latter, the hook I 4 is engaged in the perforation 9 of the finger piece or pull tab 8 with the shield [2 disposed at the inner side of the garment and curving away from the slide fastener for contact with the inner garment or skin of the wearer, as the case may be. The shield I! being longitudinally curved serves to hold the elements of the slide fastener away from the inner garment or flesh of the user and thus positively prevent entanglement of the inner garment or flesh with the elements of the stringers 6. With the device in proper engagement with the slide fastener as shown in Figure 1, the handle portion II is readily accessible at the opening of the garment and accordingly may be conveniently engaged with the finger of the hand of the user, as shown in Figure 1, or alternately engaged with a string 1 r 3 or the like, and the device pulled straight upwardly for moving the slider l in a corresponding direction to interengage the elements of the stringers 6 and thus close the opening l5.

It is also apparent that the device of this invention may be used to facilitate opening of the fastener, and of course in this operation no shield is required. No detailed explanation of the manner of using the device for opening the fastener is believed necessary; it being apparent that to perform such operation with this device, the hook I is engaged in the aperture or perforation of the pull tab 8, .and with the finger engaging in the handle H the device is .pulled straight downwardly causing the slider 1 to be moved downwardly to disengage the elements of the stringers 6 and thus open the opening 15.

It is apparent from the foregoing that modevice of this invention lends itself to a variety of shapes without departing from the inventive concept or detracting from the operating advantages of the device. In this connection it may be noted that, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the shank or body l may be straight throughout its entire length, or as shown in Figure 3 the shank or body It! may be slightly curved in the direction of its length. Also, and as shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, the shank or body l0 may be of uniform width throughout its length or, as shown Figures 1 and 2, the shank or,

body [0 intermediate the ends thereof may be reduced in width as indicated generally at I6.

Also, the handle ll may, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, be in the form of an open hook or, as

shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, the handle may" be in the form of a closed loop or eye. Likewise and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the handle ll may extend from the shank ill in a plane normal thereto or, as shown in Figure 5, may extend from the shank at substantially right angles thereto at either edge side of the shank.

While the invention has been described in detail in its presently preferred embodiments, it will, of course, be understood that such has been done for purposes of illustration only and not by way of limitation, and therefore only such limi tations are to be imposed thereon as may reasonably come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for manipulating slide fasteners comprising an elongated shank one end of which ,is reversely turned to provide a finger engaging hook, the other end of the shank being curved in the opposite direction to provide a body engaging shield, and an upwardly extending hook on the shank, near the shield end of the latter, projecting-in the direction opposite to the shield and engageable with the pull tab of the slide fastener.

2. A device-for manipulating slide fasteners comprising an elongated shank narrow throughout its length, one end of said shank being reversely turned to provide a finger engaging hook, the other end of the shank being curved in the opposite direction to provide a body engaging shield, and an upwardly extending hook on the shank, near the shield end of the latter, projecting in the directionopposite to the shield and engageable with the pull tab of the slide fastener.

LILLIAN I. SCHELDORFER.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,531,805 Clark NOV. 28, 1950 

